Samsung Galaxy S23vsGoogle Pixel 7a
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S23 wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S23 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 549 — USD 150 more than the Google Pixel 7a. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Performance — led by performance score (1,500,000 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Google Pixel 7a takes Battery — led by battery (4,385 mAh).
- Google Pixel 7a takes Price — led by price (399 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,500,000 pts vs 850,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 90 Hz.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,750 nits vs 1,000 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want better video quality — 93 pts vs 91 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want faster charging — 25 W vs 18 W.
Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want…
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want a sharper screen — 429 ppi vs 425 ppi.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want sharper selfies — 13 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want a better camera — 137 pts vs 135 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want longer battery life — 4,385 mAh vs 3,900 mAh.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want a lower price — 399 USD vs 549 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Google Pixel 7a
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 549.
Google Pixel 7a
Choose Google Pixel 7a if price matters most. It costs USD 399, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23
- Compact size
- 3x telephoto
- Big discount
- 3,900 mAh battery
- 25 W charging
- Aging chipset
Google Pixel 7a
- Great camera
- Wireless charging
- Clean Android
- 18 W charging
- Thick bezels
- Average battery